en.

The British came on gallantly. Barclay had lost all his diffidence,
and brought up his vessels like a veteran. His ships were kept close
together; the ship "Detroit" under short sail, that the pygmy sloop
"Little Belt" might not be left in the rear. The Americans came down
in single file, headed by the schooner "Scorpion." Suddenly through
the still air rang out the sharp notes of a bugle-call on the enemy's
flag-ship. It was the signal for action; and, as the last notes died
away, the bands struck up "Rule, Britannia." The Americans answered
with cheers; and in the midst of the cheering, a jet of smoke and fire
spurted from the side of the "Detroit," and a heavy shot splashed into
the water near the "Lawrence," while a dull, heavy report came booming
over the water.

The battle was opened, but five minutes elapsed before a second shot
was fired. When it did come, it crashed through the bulwarks of the
"Lawrence," and sped across her deck, doing no great damage. "Steady,
lads, steady," cried Perry, from his post on the quarter-deck, as he
saw an uneasy stir among his men, who longed to return the fire. The
commodore was determined to fight at close quarters, and hung out
signals for each ship to choose its antagonist, and fight the fight
out for itself.

It was then high noon, and the battle soon became general. The little
schooners "Scorpion" and "Ariel" pluckily kept their place in the van
of the American line, but the fire of the enemy fell most fiercely
upon the flag-ship "Lawrence." No less than four vessels at one time
were grouped about the "Lawrence," pouring in a destructive fire, and
bent upon destroying the flag-ship and her brave commander; then
taking the smaller vessels in detail. The "Lawrence" fought bravely,
but the odds were too great. The carronades with which she was armed
were no match for the long guns of her adversaries. For two hours the
unequal combat raged, and no American vessel came to the aid of the
sorely smitten flag-ship. Amid the hail of cannon-balls and bullets,
Perry seemed to bear a charmed life. He saw his officers and men
falling all about him. John Brooks, the lieutenant of marines, fought
by the commodore's side. While speaking cheerfully to the commodore, a
cannon-ball struck the young lieutenant on the hip, dashing him across
the deck against the bulwark, and mutilating him so, that he plead
piteously with Perry, imploring that he might be put out of his misery
with a p